Cagayan Naman! DOST-PHIVOLCS and Provincial Government of Cagayan Team Up for GeoRiskPH Training

April 17, 2024

by: CRTatlonghari & GVVGomez

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), in collaboration with the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Information Systems Unit (ISU) of the Provincial Government of Cagayan, conducted a two-day training course on the use of GeoRiskPH platforms last April 17-18, 2024 at Villa Blanca Hotel, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. A total of 46 participants from the Provincial and Municipal DRRM Offices, Cagayan ISU, and DOST Region 2 attended the training designed to equip local government units (LGUs) in building their exposure database and conducting hazards and risk assessment using GeoRiskPH platforms. Participants were welcomed with opening messages from Mr. Ruelie Rapsing, Head of Cagayan PDRRMO and Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, Director of DOST-PHIVOLCS. They were introduced to the different GeoRiskPH platforms (GeoMapperPH, HazardHunterPH, and GeoAnalyticsPH) and given ample time to explore each platform through simple hands-on activities. Additionally, lectures on geologic hazards and disaster preparedness were also presented to allow them to integrate their learnings into feasible and actual plan of actions for their respective offices. Through a work planning activity, participants also presented their experiences and plans on how to effectively incorporate what they have learned in the training with their assessment and preparedness efforts. One of the presenters in the work planning activity, Engr. Stephanie Joy Aguinaldo from the DRRMO of Buguey, received the Best Surveyor Award with 304 digitized building footprints using the GeoMapperPH web application. As with most of the other participants in the training, Ms. Hannah Ma. Adelia L. Blancad, Administrative Aide I from LGU-Peñablanca, expressed her plans to “provide comprehensive training sessions for relevant staff on how to use GeoRiskPH platforms effectively and implement a pilot project to test the integration of GeoRisk platforms into workflows on a smaller scale.” This underscores the collective commitment and effort of the DOST-PHIVOLCS and the Province of Cagayan toward science-based and data-informed disaster planning and decision-making. Going forward, the DOST-PHIVOLCS remains committed toward sustaining its support and service for the Province of Cagayan, ensuring that they are prepared with adequate tools and the latest knowledge to alleviate the impact of disasters and protect the welfare of their constituents. Cagayan? Kaya ‘yan!